Sheridan Smith arrives in a remote Australian town seeking a fresh start — but a murder investigation soon pulls her into the dangerous world of a notorious crime family. Jacki Weaver stars as the fierce Mrs Baxter, a matriarch determined to protect her family while uncovering the truth. With secrets, guilt and shifting loyalties, this six-part thriller feels like Broadchurch meets Happy Valley under the Australian sun. The deeper Izzie digs, the harder it becomes to know who can be trusted.

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Jacki Weaver Joins ITV’s New Six-Part Crime Thriller Two Birds

Jacki Weaver is joining Sheridan Smith in ITV’s upcoming six-part crime thriller Two Birds, a tense Australian-set drama built around a murder investigation, a notorious crime family and a police officer searching for a fresh start.

The Oscar-nominated Australian actress, known for Silver Linings Playbook and Yellowstone, takes over the role of Mrs Baxter after Judy Davis departed the production because of scheduling conflicts.

Set and filmed in Perth and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, Two Birds follows a British police constable whose new life Down Under quickly becomes complicated when she is drawn into a dangerous case.

Two women sit at a table, one in police uniform with tattoos, the other in a brown blazer. No celebrities identified.

A fresh start that quickly goes wrong

Sheridan Smith stars as Constable Izzie Cornwell, who arrives in the remote Australian mining town of Dugdale hoping to start over.

That plan does not last long. Following a disastrous misstep, Izzie becomes caught up in a murder investigation that draws her into what ITV describes as an increasingly dangerous web of deceit and guilt.

Her investigation puts her directly in the path of Mrs Baxter, played by Weaver, the formidable matriarch of a notorious local crime family.

Jacki Weaver holding a rifle, standing in a field with a barn behind her.

Mrs Baxter is determined to protect those closest to her while also trying to uncover the truth surrounding the case, setting up a potentially volatile clash with Izzie.

Stephen Peacocke plays homicide detective Matt, Izzie’s boss, and the first-look images released by ITV offer glimpses of the pair working around the investigation.

A twisty thriller with plenty of heart

Police officer with tattoos on arms, wearing uniform and gloves, examining a rock surface.

Two Birds comes from writers Helen FitzGerald, known for The Cry, and Megan Palinkas, whose credits include Heartbreak High.

James Griffiths, director of The Ballad of Wallis Island, and Corrie Chen, who directed Good Cop/Bad Cop, are behind the camera.

ITV Drama Commissioner Callum Dziedzic has described the series as a “propulsive, twisty thriller with real humanity,” while praising Smith’s casting as Izzie and highlighting the warmth and depth she brings to the character.

The combination of a murder mystery, family loyalties and a remote Australian setting is expected to give the six-part drama plenty of room for tension and unexpected turns.

Full cast revealed

Steve Peacocke in a suit and Sheridan Smith in police uniform stand by a crime scene tape.

Alongside Weaver, Smith and Peacocke, the cast includes Colin Friels, Fiona Button, Eva Morgan, Harry Greenwood, Nic Cassim, Victoria Fowler, Lila McGuire, Kit Jeakings-Bull, Matthew Pearce, Sarah Roberts and Matt Day.

Button is known for The Split and Industry, while Morgan has appeared in The Gathering and This City is Ours. Greenwood’s credits include Klara and The Sun and Tenzing, and Friels has previously starred in Water Rats and Malcolm.

The ensemble also features performers from Mr Inbetween, The Twelve, Bump, Invisible Boys, Home and Away, Scrublands and Rake.

Two Birds will air on ITV1 and ITVX. ITV has yet to announce a release date.